Spring



Dec. 14,1926. 1,610,732

G. C. BATZ SPRING Fi1ed June 20, 1925 i324/ ff fj/21' ff jf Patented Dec. f4, 1926.

UNITED emr.

GEORG-E C. BATZ, 0F TOPEKA, KANSAS.

- SPRNG.

Application filed June 2O7 1925. Serial No. 38,422.

My invention relates to leaf springs, especially elliptic and semi-elliptic springs composed of a plurality of superposed leaf members, especially adapted for use on locoa motives; although equally as well adapted for other purposes.

@ne object of my invention is to provide a spring of the type in questionwherein the various leaves or spring members and the io holding clamp or band are so formed and arranged that they have interlocking relation with one another and thus retain their proper or operative association with each other at all times regardless of the flexing strainsto which they are subjected; the invention contemplating a construction wherein this locked or positive non-shifting relation'between the respective members will be maintained without, however, in any way weakening the respective springvmembers or the assembled structure.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a construction which may be easily formed and assembled without requiring eX- ceptional skill and time in the assembling thereof.

rfhe various objects and advantages of m invention will all he readily compreliended from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawing, where- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved spring shown applied to a portion of the main frame of a locomotive.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view, on the line Q--Q of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the upper leaf or topspring member.

Figure l is a perspective view of the intermediate portion of the bottom leaf or spring member. f

In the construction of springs of the type in question and more particularly of such springs for use in connectionv with locomotive trucks, various methods have been employed for holding the various leaves of the spring relative to each other and to the spring band or clamping member; the method most commonly employed being to provide a small knob or nib approximately at the longitudinal center line of each leaf or spring member. The formation of the nib results in providing a corresponding depression on the opposite side of the leaf or dis- 55 tortion at the longitudinal center line of the taken leaf. Such formation places the metal under a strain which results in a material weakening of the spring member, with the result that fractures frequently occur when the springs are subjected to the shocks and flexing strains which are encountered inuse. The nibs and depressions referred to are formed while the leaf member is hot and provides a rather crude formation, with the result that the. nib of one leaf member does not sufficiently correspond and properly register with the depression in the opposing surface of the adjacent leaf member; it being understood that the nib of one leaf as described is intended to engage in the depression of the next adjacent leaf. As a result of this rather crude construction, the leaves or respective members of the spring, when subjected to continuous vibration and flexing, are allowed to crawl to a certain degree upon each other; the total amount of movement in a spring composed of a number of leaves resulting in a serious displacement of the leaves in their relation to the clamping member or band. Furthermore, in forming the nibs in the manner heretofore employed and as hereinbefore stated, Whereby the metal in each leaf of the spring is distorted, fractures occur which initially start at the point of nib formation and work outwardly toward the longitudinal edges of the leaf until the latter becomes entirely broken.

The purpose of my invention is to overcome all of these difliculties and to provide a spring which is not weakened by providing the respective leaves ,with interlocking surfaces or registering portions while at the same time havino' such or similar surfaces on the-upper and lower members or leaves so that the leaves are not only held in proper relation with each other, but the assembled leaves or composite spring will be firmly bound within the clamping member or band. Y

ln the particular exemplification of the 100 invention7 my improved spring is shown applied to the side truck frame member of a locomotive generally indicated at 10; the spring consisting of a plurality of leaf `members 11, 12, 18, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 m5 of varying lengths and arranged in neste or superposed relation in the manner usually employed in semi-elliptic spring construction. ln my improved construction, each of the spring members or leaves 11, no

l depression on the 4similar crimp in -o f the band 24.

ror plate is 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 have preferably one longitudinal side thereof, at a point intermediate of the ends and so as to register with each other, provided with a crimp somewhat iff-shape in cross-section, as t 21, see Figure 1i, wherein a portion of the lower leaf 11 is shown. lt will be understood that all of the leaves up to and including leaf 19 are provided with a similar crimp in the same longitudinal edge so that the `downwardly disposed portion of 'one crimp will register withand be seated in the opposite face of the neat adjacent leaf below, when the various leaves are nested or arranged in theV superposed relation shown in lligures 1 and 2.

The topmost leaf 2O is provided with a i its corresponding longitudinal edge; the crimp 22 being kformed at a point where it will register with the crimp or depression formed on the corresponding.longitudinal side of the succeeding lower leaf member or spring 19; it being understood that the crimps 21 and 22 are preferably formed ata corresponding intermediate pointof each leaf member relative Y to the ends thereof in order to permit nesting and registration. 'lhe top leaf member 2O on its other longitudinal edge is provided with .a preferably similar crimp 2L formed ordisposed in the* opposite direction, that `is to say the crimp is disposed upwardly, while crimp 22 in top leaf member 20 and the crimps 21 in the other leaf members arranged therebeneath are disposed downwardly. he crimps 21, 22 and 23 are formed in the respective leaf members while the metal is -hot and the leaf members are then nested in the superposed manner shown in Figure 1 with the downwardly disposed crimps 21 and 22 all registering' with each other (that is to say, with the downwardly disposed nietalof the one leaf extending into the crimp depression of the adjacent lower leaf). After this has been done, the binding member or band 24 is then applied; the band ist being likewise applied while it is het; application of the band being made under high pressure, with the result that ythe crimp 23 of the topmost leaf member 20 and the crimp 21 of the lower leaf inember ll, the leaves and crimps having slightly chilled, become embedded in the hot metal As a result of this formation and manner of application the respective members of the semi-elliptic spring are not only securely locked to each other, but the composite spring is firmly locked in the band member 2st.

By forming the crimps in the manner shown it is apparent that a more uniform projecting surface on each spring member provided and one which will permit of'a more accurate registration and nesting; and furthermore by forming these superposed metallic plates Lerares crimps in the longitudinal edges, where it is easier to crimp a portion of the leaves and provide the angularly disposed straight surfaces, a less injurious distortion of metal takes place so that ilexure of the spring members is less likely to result in fractures than has been the case in constructions as heretofore employed and described wherein nibs were formed at the longitudinal center liA e of each leaf member, namely at a point between the `longitudinal edges thereof. lll ith my invention, the metal of the various leaf members of the spring is not distorted or strained as with the construction hereinbefore referred to and as result a stronger spring is not only provided; but a semi-elliptic spring is produced wherein the leaves are not only locked to each other, but the composite spring is also locked within the band so that a crawling of the respective leaf members and movement relative to the band is made impossible. n

lhe ends of the upper leaf members are provided with suitable slots as shown at 25, in the manner usual in springs of this type, to receive the base portions of the usual clips or spring hanger seats shown at 26 in Figure 1; these clips, at least at one V end, being usually provided with an extended base portion which is intended to be seated between the long or upper leaf members; the clips 26 being inserted through the slots 25 by wedging the ends of the upper leaf members apart with any suitable wedge in order that the extended'base portions of the clips may be seated between the leaf meinbers; the base portion of the clipsbeing longer than the slots 25, so that the clips are vheld in place. As this is the usual construction and forms no part of my invention, a more specilic or detailed illustration and description need not be entered into.

TWhile l have shown my improved spring as a locomotive spring, it fisapparent that the invention is applicable to springs intended for different use; and while the exemplilication is believed to be the best embodiment of my invention, modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention which has been described in terms employed merely as terms of description and not as terms of limitation.

lllhat l claim is:

1. A spring' composed of a plurality Vof or leaves, each leaf at the same longitudinal edge `being' formed with a similar crimp, the crimp of one leaf nesting' in the crimp of the adjacent leaf, and an encircling band in which the crimp of the adjacent plate or leaf is einbedded.

2. A spring composed of a plurality of superposed metallic plates or leaves, the longitudinal edges' whereof are provided with corresponding crimps adapted to rigister with each other, and an encircling band in which the crimps of the Vupper and lower plates are embedded.

3. A spring composed of a plurality of superposed leaves or plates, the longitudinal edges whereof are provided with corresponding crimps adapted to register with each other, while the topmost plate is provided with an additional and upwardly disposed crimp, and an encircling band in which said upwardly disposed crimp of the top plate and the crimp of the lowermost plate are embedded.

4C. A spring composed of a plurality of superposed leaves or plates, each plate being provided with a crimp, the crimp of one plate nesting in the depression formed by the crimp in the adjacent plate, and an encircling band in which the crimp of the adjacent plate is embedded.

5. A spring composed of a plurality of superposed leaves or plates, one longitudinal edge of each plate being provided with a similar crimp having angularly disposed surfaces, with the crimpy of one plate nesting in the depression formed by the crimp in the adjacent plate, one of the outer plates having its other longitudinal edge provided with an oppositely disposed crimp, and an encircling band in which said last mentioned crimp and the crimp of the other outer plate are embedded.

6. A spring composed of a plurality of superposed leaves or plates, each plate having one longitudinal edge on the same side oi'l the spring provided with a downwardly disposed crimp, V-shaped in cross-section, nested in the depression formed by the crimp n the adjacent plate, while the other longitudinal edge of the top plate is provided with an upwardly disposed crimp, V-shape in cross-section, and an encircling` band adapted to receive the upwardly disposed crimp of the top plate and the downwardly disposed crimp ot the lower plate, whereby longitudinal movement oi:l the platesrelative to each other or ot the superposed plates relative to the band is prevented.

GEORGE O. BATZ. 

